Packaging device for positioning a tubular type envelope over potted plants and similar articles



J. GALLO 3, PACKAGING DEVICE FOR POSITIONING A TUBULAR TYPE ENVELOPE Jan. 2, 1968 OVER POTTED PLANTS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed Jan. 21, 1965 United States Patent Ofiic e 3,360,901- Patented Jan. 2, 1968 3,360,901 PACKAGING DEVICE FOR POSITIONING A TUBU- LAR TYPE ENVELOPE OVER POTTED PLANTS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES Joseph Gallo, 938 East St., Walpole, Mass. 02081 Filed Jan. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 426,843 4 Claims. (Cl. 53-390) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A packaging device for positioning a tubular type envelope over potted plants and similar articles while supported in an upright position having, in combination, a base providing support for a roll of tubular packaging material, a packaging platform disposed above said base in floating relation thereto, support rollers rotatable on horizontal axes angularly disposed from one another about said base in oppositely paired relation, cooperating rollers rotatable on horizontal axes on said platform, each disposed parallel to and offset inwardly from a support roller, the platform rollers resting upon cooperating oppositely paired base mounted support rollers to maintain a stable position of the platform overlying the base and interposedtubular packaging material passing between the base mounted rollers and platform rollers. In a preferred form of the invention the base mounted rollers and the platform mounted rollers supported in nesting relation are arranged in a rectangle. Two outwardly stepped pairs of base mounted rollers and two pairs of cooperating platform mounted rollers are provided at two opposite ends of the packaging device. Magnets mounted on the base and on the platform with their poles arranged to repel one another may be employed to reduce the pressure exerted on the packaging material by the engaging rollers.

The present invention relates to a packaging device and more particularly to a device for positioning a tubular type envelope over a potted plant or similar article which requires careful handling preferably in a right-side-up pos1tion.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a packaging device which is adapted for the drawing of a tubular type envelope onto a package of this general description while firmly supported in a right-side-up position,

'said operation being performed by drawing the envelope upwardly over the base of the package to the top thereof.

In carrying out the invention, I provide a cabinet base in which there is mounted a roll of a tubular packaging material, a packaging platform or table on which a package to be wrapped is placed, and means providing a floating support for the platform, these parts being so arranged that the platform provides a spreading element about which the tubular wrapping material may be readily pulled upwardly around the platform, past the support means, and thence upwardly over the package.

With the above and other objects in view as may hereinafter appear, the several features of the invention will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view in perspective of a packaging device for potted plants and similar articles including a cabinet base, a package supporting platform, cooperating rollers providing a floating support for the platform, and power means for drawing off additional material from a storage roll in the cabinet base;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation of the packaging device shown in FIG. 1, but with the platform in operating position, and illustrating the manner in which an envelope of wrapping material is drawn upwardly between the floating platform and base;

FIG. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on a line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modification of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in which transversely magnetized permanent magnets are provided in the side walls of the platform acting against corresponding laterally magnetized magnets supported in repelling relation on the cabinet base for lightening the load on the advancing tubular wrapping material; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a further modification of the invention in which opposed rollers are mounted respectively in the inwardly tapered downwardly extending lip of a cylindrical circular platform to cooperate with correspondingly located support rollers mounted at intervals about the outwardly inclined upper wall of a cylindrical cabinet base.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, my improved packaging device comprises a cabinet base 10 shown as generally rectangular in shape, and a package supporting platform 12, also rectangular in shape, standing at approximately counter height above the floor. A roll of tubular wrapping material such as paper indicated at 14 is mounted on bearing supports 16 in the base. The platform 12 having downwardly and inwardly sloping side faces 18 and end faces 20 acts as a spreader over which tubular wrapping material is drawn in an upward direction so that the tubular material is opened out and positioned around the package.

In the illustration shown the platform 12'is supported in floating relation to the cabinet base 10 on rollers at each end of the platform which include two horizontally disposed outwardly stepped rollers 22, 24 mounted in bearings 26 for free rotational movement in the outwardly sloping end portions 20 of the platform 12. These rollers are arranged, when the platform is in place, to rest upon cooperating rollers 30, 32 mounted in outwardly sloping side extensions 34 of the base 10.

A roller 36 mounted in each outwardly sloping side face 18 of the platform 12 is similarly located to engage against a roller38 mounted on the cooperating outwardly sloping side extension 34 of the cabinet base 10. It will be noted that the tubular wrapping material 40 envelopin g the platform 12 passes upwardly outside the end rollers 22, 24- and side rollers 36 attached to the platform 12, and inside the outside end bearing support rollers 30, 32 and side rollers 38 mounted on extensions 34 of the base. This arrangement has the advantage that it substantially eliminates frictional resistance to the advance of the wrapping material while at all times providing a sturdy and stable support for the platform 12. It will be understood that if so desired a different arrangement of the supporting means for the floating platform 12 may be employed as, for example, a different arrangement of the supporting rollers or the substitution of other equivalent frictionless supporting means whereby the envelope of be understood that platforms to the cabinet base 10 by the the presence of the'two downwardly and outwardly against the supportmg rolls tion on the horizontally'di'sposed platform tubular wrapping material may be readily drawn upwardly around the floating platform 12.

FIG. 4 of the drawing illustrates a slightly modified form of the cabinet base 10 and platform 12 in which two cross-magnetized longitudinally extending magnets 44, 46 are mounted in each side face 18 of the platform 12 to cooperate with two similar longitudinally extending cross-magnetized magnets 48, 50 mounted on the outwardly sloping extensions 34 of the platform 12. The magnets 44, 46 are so arranged with relation to the magnets 48, 50 that the magnets repel each other, causing an upward force to be executed against the platform 12 thereby reducing the effective weight of the platform 12; The pressure of the rollers against the strip of tubular wrapping material passing therebetween is thereby greatly lessened, correspondingly reducing the possibility of rupture or pile-up of thepaper tissue passing between the rollers.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown, power means are provided for drawing additional wrapping material from the storage roll as needed. Referring to FIG. 1 an electric driving motor 54 in the base 1% having an extended armature shaft 56 is connected by a belt 58 and pulleys 60, 62 to drive one roller 32, and is. connected by a second belt 64 and pulleys 66, 68 to drive the other roller 32. The motor 54 is controlled by means of a foot-treadle generally designated at 70 and a connecting cord 72. Pressing the foot pedal 70 closes an electrical circuit to start and stop the motor.

FIG. illustrates a further modification of my invention in which a platform of circular shape is substituted for the rectangular platform 12 of FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive. The platform designated at 74 is formed with a downwardly and inwardly sloping face portion 76 slotted at intervals about the periphery thereof. to receive rollers 78 mounted to turn on horizontal axes. A cylindrical cabinet base generally indicated at 8% formed with an-outwardly inclined .upward extension 82 is similarly provided with horizontally disposed slots in which are mountedsupport rollers 84 adapted to engage in supporting relation the platform mounted rollers 78. It will of other shapes supported by suitably arranged groups of rollers may be provided for the wrapping of especially shaped packages as may be desired.

My improved device for packaging potted plants and similar articles operates in the following manner:

It is assumed that a length of tubular material 40 has been drawn from the roll 14 upwardly through the hollow support provided by the rollers 30, 32 and 38 in the cabinet base (see FIGS. 1 and 2) and around the platform 12 in enveloping relation thereto. The platform 12 is placed within said hollow support so that the platform support rollers 20, 22,36 rest against the upper inwardly disposed faces of the respective base support rollers 30, 32 and 38 with the wrapping material 40 passing between the two sets of rollers. It will be noted from an inspe'ction of FIGS. 1 and 2 that the platform 12 is supported in a'st'able horizontally disposed relation arrangement of the opposed supporting and supported rollers. Such stability is produced by the'arrangement of two pairs of rollers at each end of the platform, each of which support rollers 'is supported against both downward and outward movement against an opposed roller. Any tendency of the platform to rock or to move laterally is further inhibited by side rolls 36 supported both and side sets of rollers also 12 firmly in its proper 38..The position of the end acts to maintain the platform position over the cabinet base 10. The package to be wrapped, which may be a potted plant or a bouquet,

for example, supported in a suitable vase filled with foam material and water, isnow placed in upright posi- 12. The operator may now actuate the foot pedal 70 causing a length of the enclosed cylindrical wrapping material to be'drawn off from the supply roll 14 passing upwardly around the article to be packaged. The envelope thus formed is severed from the supply slightly above the level of the platform 12, is secured to the sides of the pot by means of a string or rubber band, and may be finally gathered in at the top and tied to complete the packaging operation.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown, the opposed supporting elements on the cabinet base 10 and platform 12 comprise rollers which are rotatable to permit the wrapping material to be drawn freely therebetween, while at the same time the location of the rollers relative to one another causes the platform to be supported in a stable manner. It will be understood that freely movable support surfaces of other descriptions as, for example, ball bearing supports, or belts shiftable along the path of movement of the wrapping material may be substituted for the rollers of FIG. 1 or the circular arrangement of the rollers shown in FIG. 5. Alternatively, operating conditions may permit the use of opposed series of highly polished stationary slide surfaces in place of the roller supported elements shown.

For use under the most adverse conditions in which objects of substantial weight are to be packaged, or in which the packaging material is so flimsy as to risk tearing when drawn between the opposed supporting elements, the pressure exerted upon the Wrapping material passing between the rollers upon the platform 12 and article to be wrapped may be substantially reduced by the employment of the opposed magnets of FIG. 4. It will be understood that applicant is not limited to the specific construction shown, and that other suitable arrangements of either permanent or electromagnets may be employed to produce an upward thrust against the platform which will substantially reduce the downward pressure exerted upon the envelope of wrapping material by the weight of the platform and package to be wrapped.

The invention having been described what is claimed 1. A packaging device for positioning a tubular type envelipe over potted plants and similar articles while supported in an upright position having, in combination, a base providing support for a roll of tubular packaging material, a packaging platform disposed above said base in floating relation thereto, rollers rotatable on horizontal axes angularly disposed from one another about said base in oppositely paired relation, cooperating rollers rotatable on horizontal axes on said platform each disposed parallel to and offset inwardly from a support roller, the platform rollers resting upon oppositely paired base mounted support rollers to provide a stabilized gravity roller support for the platform on said base.

2. A packaging device for positioning a tubular type envelope over potted plants and similar articles while supported in an upright position according to claim 1, in which said platform and base mounted rollers are placed in oppositely paired rectangular position.

3. A packaging device for positioning a tubular type envelope over potted plants and similar articles while supported in an upright position accordingto claim 1 having, in combination, magnets mounted upon and extending along each of two opposed peripheral edges of said platform within said tubular packaging material, magnets mounted on said base disposed adjacent and beneath each said platform mounted magnet exteriorly of said tubular packaging material, said platform mounted magnets and said base mounted magnets being polarized to repel one another and thereby to exert an upward thrust upon said platform.

4. A packaging device for positioning a tubular type envelope over potted plants and similar articles while supported in an upright positionaccording to claim 2,

5 in which two additional rollers are mounted on two opposite sides of the base parallel to two said oppositely paired base mounted rollers, located above and offset outwardly from said oppositely paired base mountedrollers, and two additional rollers are mounted on op- 5 posite sides of the platform adjacent said additional base mounted rollers and are located in parallel relation to, above, and offset outwardly from oppositely paired platform mounted rollers to rest in inwardly stepped relation upon said two additional base mounted rollers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,847,806 8/1958 Wang 53-4148 X 3,058,278 10/1962 Forman et a1. 53-390X 3,287,881 11/1966 Jelling et al. 53-384 FOREIGN PATENTS 90,015 7/1957 Norway.

10 TRAVIS S. MOGEHEE, Primary Examiner. 

